This book, the first in a new series by William Shaw, drew me right in. I spent every minute that I could turning the pages of this engaging and suspenseful novel. I was drawn in by the characters, the setting and the mystery itself. I hope that the second novel in this series will be out soon.

Readers meet Eden who is with the police in London. He is called away when his sister, Apple, disappears from her boat, leaving her young son locked in a cabin. Finn is understandably traumatized and is slow to connect with Eden who, estranged from Apple, had never met his nephew.

The story gets twisty as readers wait to find out what happened to Apple. There are suspects, police officers, child welfare officers, school personnel, missing computers, cameras and phones, and more to keep the reader intrigued.

Readers will not only want the case to be solved but, I think, will be hoping for the very best for Finn.

I highly recommend this title. It offers a fantastic read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 July 2025

400 pages

Mystery & Thrillers

From the publisher:

he first in a brand new series of Devon-set crime thrillers featuring DS Eden Driscoll

‘Crime fiction at its very best, a knotty mystery‘ ELLY GRIFFITHS

‘Terrific … Perhaps his best yet’ ANN CLEEVES

‘The undisputed king of seaside noir’ VASEEM KHAN

‘A gripping and wonderful thriller’ NICCI FRENCH

‘Twistier than a cramping snake’ M. W. CRAVEN

The “other” Windsor Girl is Princess Margaret, known to many because of the successful tv series, The Crown.  This book is another way to gain perspective on Margaret, those around her and the times in which she lived. Readers will move through the sedate 40s right up to the 60s.

The narrative includes a mix of historical and fictional people and a wide variety of both royal homes and places where Margaret spent time. The most prominent of the fictional characters is Vera who becomes a lady in waiting to Margaret, thus giving her a fly on the wall perspective to royal life.  Her story is one of making choices after coming under the royal gaze.  Are the choices that she makes ones that she will regret?

The underpinning of the novel is the impact that being A princess but not THE princess had on Margaret who garnered less attention and found it difficult to establish a meaningful life.  She often wanted what she could not have and did not want what was there for her.

In my opinion, this novel started a bit slowly but  is worth staying with until the end.  The skill of the author is such that I kept hoping for Margaret to have the life she yearned for, especially in her relationship with Group Captain Peter Townsend, all while knowing what happened historically.

This book can provide a bit of escapism as we all are in our homes dreaming of having a more exciting life.  I rate it at four stars.

A Graphic Novel

by Mariah Marsden, Hanna Luechtefeld

Pub date: June 15, 2021

The Secret Garden is a well-known children’s classic. The story of a young orphan, a mansion on the moors, a crippled young boy and others is a hopeful one. The novel has been presented in different formats including a recent movie with Colin Firth, a cookbook and this graphic novel version.

All of the elements of The Secret Garden are here. The illustrations are evocative and true to the story. The dialogue covers the plot well. All in all, this title is a welcome addition to the classic version of the story. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

The Other Bennet Sister A Novel by Janice Hadlow

Let me just say at the outset that I adore this book.  If you are a Jane Austen fan, definitely take a look at this title.

The other Bennet Sister is Mary.  If you have read P and P, you know how she is portrayed there.  In this title, readers will get to know Mary so much better.  I felt for her immediately as some of the first things to come up in the novel had to do with being a middle sister, bookish, needing glasses, not feeling pretty (enough) and not necessarily wanting to go to parties.  I could identify with these!  I also relate to Mary’s efforts at self improvement as she approaches the piano and her father’s library.  Watching Mary figure out her life while spending time with other members of the Bennet household made this a wonderful read for me.

I think that Ms. Hadlow has captured the tone of Jane Austen.  Mr. B is still sardonic, Mrs. B is a bit empty headed and the sisters are very much themselves.

Another plus of this title for me is its length.  At 480 pages it is a novel to sink into.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this most enjoyable title.  All opinions are my own.

#TheOtherBennetSister #NetGalley

Our columnist on the month’s best new releases.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2025/06/01/books/review/new-thrillers.html

#PocketNatureBirdWatching #NetGalley

When I go to my local botanical garden, I see and hear many birds. I recognize some species but these are pretty easy ones. So, I was interested to see what could be learned in this short guide.

One thing about this title is that it is small in size. This would make it easy to take on any birding adventures.

There is lots of info packed into these pages and many illustrations (though some might have preferred photographs for easier recognition.) The illustrations do not accurately reflect the colors of the birds but the shape and look of the birds is accurate.

My favorite part of this book was the section on bird watching tips. I hope that this will lead to more enjoyment on my walks. I also liked the general information sections which, for example, describe why beaks are important and all that they can do. It was interesting to see variations among birds-for example, different birds build different kinds of nests. There is a lot of information on many subjects included in this short title.

Bird watchers/fanciers will want to give this title a look.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 19 August 2025

128 pages

Nature

#MyMagnoliaSummer #NetGalley

I am among the many readers who delighted in the novels of this author’s mom. Her death was a cause of sorrow on many levels. Dorothea created wonderful stories set in the Low Country. She is missed by many.

That said, it was a delight to get to know another Benton Frank. Not only did I very much enjoy this novel but so did some of my favorite authors including Patti Callahan Henry.

Here is a Southern family story. The setting, character and plot are all quite well done making it hard to believe that this is Victoria’s first novel.

I recommend this one for lovers of women’s/family fiction. It offers just the right kind of summer read; get to know Magnolia (Maggie), Lily and the others in the family. As a bonus, there is a restaurant too!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 06 June 2023

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“No one can ever take the place of Dorothea Benton Frank, but by writing My Magnolia Summer, a novel of low country food, family drama, and just the right amount of romance, Victoria Benton Frank shows that she is the rightful heir to the crown of summertime storytellers. Her mother would be so proud.” — Ann Patchett

“In My Magnolia Summer, author Victoria Benton Frank spins all the plates and brings all the magic of the lowcountry to life. A tale of the complicated relationships between mothers, daughters and let’s not forget, sisters—this enchanting novel will bring romance and sunshine to your summer reading list.” — Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of The Five-Star Weekend

“My Magnolia Summer is a sensory treat and a mesmerizing tribute to the complicated strength and solace of family. Frank’s warm and wise prose is splashed with just the right amount of wit in this sultry Lowcountry tale. With a delectable peek behind the kitchens of the best restaurants, a romp through the marshes of South Carolina, and a glimpse into the intricate hearts of sisters, this is a powerful debut. Proving that when things fall apart, indomitable women come together, My Magnolia Summer is enchanting, hilarious and insightful.” — Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author

#WelcometoBeachTown #NetGalley

Welcome to Beach Town will be a real treat for both new and old readers of Susan Wiggs’s books. WTBT is a well written, emotional novel with characters about whom readers will care. The plot is carefully developed and the locales are well described. As a bonus, readers will learn a lot about surfing, to say nothing of human relationships; there are those of parent figure/child, romantic partners, friends and others whom the characters meet along the way.

The story opens as Nikki is about to give her valedictory address at high school graduation. This poor student at a prestigious private school changes her planned remarks at the last minute. Why does she say what she does? How will this decision impact the rest of her life? Pick up this novel to find out.

Nikki grew up in Alara Cove where she was raised by a widowed father and later by an artistic foster mother/family friend. Both of these people had influence on her as did her love of surfing. Readers will get to know others who are important to Nikki as well including her foster sister and close friend Cal as well as Nikki’s first love.

Nikki faces both tragedies and good moments in these pages. As a reader, I longed for her to find happiness and hoped that Ms. Wiggs would not disappoint in that respect. Well, read the story to find out for yourself.

I highly recommend this book. It is one of the author’s best. Library Journal agrees and gave it a starred review. They state: Fans of the prolific Wiggs and of strong women protagonists will stay up all night to finish this speeding bullet to the best-seller list.

Many thanks to NetGally and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date; 20 June 2023

From the Publisher

A Novel

by Susan Wiggs

#WaywardGirls #NetGalley

Wayward Girls tells the stories of six young women who, for various reasons, were sent to an institution in Buffalo, New York that was much like Ireland’s Magdalen Laundries. These were places were vulnerable young girls, many times the victims of others, were sent when they became pregnant when they were single or otherwise were not conforming to society’s rules. Even worse, one character was sent to this hell, when it was her stepfather who was the offending party. The men often seemed to be able to continue as they had been with little consequence for their mistreatment of their victims.

Anyone who wonders about the historic (lack of) rights for young women will be justifiably appalled by what happened to these girls who were further victimized and judged by those who should have helped them. Readers will very much hope that somehow these six young women will be able to go on to better lives post institution. Their friendships should help.

Disclosure: I have worked with birth mothers from this time and know many of their stories. This made a book, that was excellent, very difficult for me to read.

One note: The story begins with a girl who says that she needs a pre-adoption certificate to get a passport. I have never heard of that requirement.

Kudos to Wiggs for bravely showing readers what life was like for some young women. I believe that she hopes that a time like this will not come again.

This is definitely a worthwhile read. It is not all depressing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 15 July 2025

400 pages

From the Publisher

I love Hallett’s original and somewhat unconventional crime stories. She does not write traditional narratives but rather uses documents and other devices to tell her stories with great effect, just as she does in this, her fifth book, with emails, text messages and essays. It is a book that asks a reader to pay attention and then richly rewards them.

Six students have embarked on a Master’s level course. They are Jem, Cameron, Jonathan, Ludya, Patrick and Alyson. They are from different backgrounds, vary in age and have different talents and histories. They are intensely thrown together in the program.

The Examiner of the title is tasked with reviewing the work of these students. This examiner has many questions. Will there be answers?

This book is such an intriguing one. I very much enjoyed it.

A note: I listened to part of this as an audio book. This helped me to distinguish the characters early on.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 September 2024

464 pages

Mystery & Thrillers

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Others by this author:

Coming in September 2025

Earlier novels

Will The Appeal appeal to you? The Appeal by Janice Hallett

Can you crack: The Twyford Code (by Janice Hallett)

Can you solve it? The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels (Janice Hallett)

There is trouble ahead: The Christmas Appeal (Hallett)-ane book bargain